366

One year ago today I started a challenge to write a blog with the equivalent of a picture a day for a year.  Today is day 366. 

The puppies all fell in love with Dad all over again.

Mom and Dad enjoying tea before supper

Good bye, blogging world.  Here is me, Day 366.


6 years ago today I married my husband.  7 years ago today he proposed.  I love the life I've been given and I wish nothing but the same for those who have put up with me for the past year.

Thank you for reading.

If you would like to continue the madness, a new post will be showing up shortly on a more permanent blog
http://kristinparrish.blogspot.com/


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and good bye for now.

Preparations

This weekend and early next week will consist of me playing hostess.  I'm not exactly the best hostess, though my sister-in-law made a very sweet comment about how well I did Easter this past year. 
So I've been preparing.  A few cleaning errands today, a little bit of baking last night.

Homemade peanut butter cups:)

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of this blog challenge.  I've kind of gotten used to thinking about life in a "what can I take a picture of" sort of way.  

One thing I did take a picture of today was a finished art project.  The keys inside are from my first clarinet, which happened to belong to my Aunt Sue.  The box was made by my dad for jewelry when I was in high school and I didn't think to put the two together until a few days ago.  I like it a lot!

But with a new year, comes a new blog.  This one is more definite, because moving over to a new blog is always a little more difficult, and you have to wonder how many people keep reading after you've moved on.  Since I'm not doing this for a lot of readers, it doesn't really matter, I suppose, but it's a little difficult, anyway.

My new blog, that I will be starting around the first of the year, is http://kristinparrish.blogspot.com/
I know, really creative title, right?

That's okay.

I'm continuing blogging because my mom might actually start following and because I would like to actually talk about some things that matter more frequently, instead of "look at this picture of my dog".  It'll be about simple living, Christian living, being a wife, that sort of stuff.  So, if you want to keep following my boring little life, consider this a warm invitation. 

And... look at this picture of my dog.

I will have a post tonight when my parents arrive and one final goodbye tomorrow.

Snow Day!!

I had a very disappointed clarinet student this morning.  She had been looking forward to sleeping in and staying home with her mom.  Yet, there she was, learning some more scales and techniques on her clarinet at 7:15 in the morning.  She had been hoping for a snow day.
Well, though she was up (most likely earlier than everyone else at her school) she did get to go home and maybe take a nap.
That's what I might do this afternoon.
I walked to work with no snow.  There were rumors but there were rumors about last night, too.
Then, it started coming down.  Schools were getting out left and right, Luis didn't do his normal road run.  I did all of my morning duties and Bob told me not to come back this afternoon.

 The "view" out of our front door.

 David enjoying the snow.

 Gray at the front door... he was in and out in less than 30 seconds.

 Snow sticking to the house

 So that's why we can't see out the front window...

 I came home, let the dogs out and checked the mail.  Then, sweatpants and slippers.  It took less than 5 minutes to get into full blown snow day mode.

Gray was super excited to be back inside!

In case you have been counting, these pictures bring us up to 360.  That means 6 more pictures and 4 more days until the challenge of this blog is over.
 
I am a little sad now that it is coming to an end.  I have 12 official followers now and a few that aren't official.  I don't know what the grand total is, but since I'm not doing this for a following it doesn't really matter.  I have made started the beginnings of a new blog, which I will bring up on one of the last posts.  It's going to be a lot different-- a once a week update on my life and the goals I've set for myself in the coming year and beyond (I've learned my lesson, yearly blogs are annoying because you have to change them all the time!).

Have a great snow day, locals! 

Gilmore Girls

I have a guilty pleasure show.  Gilmore Girls.  I haven't had time or the desire really to enjoy this show for a year or so.  But this morning, as I finished getting ready, I had an overwhelming desire to chill today.  I don't usually chill by myself often.  I can't sit still!  But, a couple of hours of watching a few episodes of a good old show today, as I prepare for Christmas, is just what I wanted. 

In other news, during a deep clean on Saturday, Jim found an old friend of Gray's... a stuffed penguin.  We caught Rory chewing on it first.  Then Gray.  Then David discovered that it squeaks and hasn't let anyone else touch it since.

Choir Concert

Tonight, as we celebrate Jim's birthday, we attended a choir concert under the direction of the new instructor, Mr. Work.  I was excited to be able to attend this concert as I haven't seen him in action yet. 
So, before talking about the concert, I wanted to finish a story about seeing The Hobbit in theatre on Friday night.  If you remember from a post earlier today, I mentioned bringing it up again.  It was actually a terrifying experience that ended up being nothing, but was enough to have me in tears for the first portion of the movie.
When we arrived, extra early to ensure good seats, we were ahead of a young guy and his younger brother.  He was wearing a leather jacket over a hooded sweatshirt. As we waited for our popcorn, a full face mask fell out of the inside of his jacket.  His brother pointed it out to him and he seemed to get upset, telling him to "sh" and that it was "his mask" and quickly put it back on the inside of his jacket.  I told Jim right away that I was nervous, as this mask didn't represent anything in the Hobbit, it was more of a white thing with bright red lips.  Jim said not to worry, but that didn't stop me from taking note of where mask-man was sitting.
It also didn't stop me from noticing the kids sitting in front of me, most of them kids from the band.  And across the way, a graduate of the band and his sisters.  So, I watched the guy with more diligence... the poor kid probably wondered why he felt like someone was staring at him all night.  Yup, that was me.  But, frankly, I think he deserved it after the lights went down and he put his hood up and covered his face with the mask.  I told Jim we had to do something right then.  He went and talked to him.  Seemed like a nice kid, just wanted to be nerdy while watching a nerdy movie.  Jim looked him over to make sure there were no signs of anything we should be concerned about, but it didn't really feel like enough.
The first part of The Hobbit had me in tears as I looked at the back of the heads of the kids in front of me.  I gave her flute lessons--she plays the trumpet.  He was so close to making it into All-State last year.  Not only that, but I knew these kids by name, I knew most of their parents.
Even though mask-man was a nice guy and didn't do anything else suspicious all night, I was watching him carefully.  Then I realized I was probably the creepiest person in the room, because I just wanted to hug those kids in front of me and tell them how awesome they all are!

So at tonight's concert I enjoyed the performance of talented, kind and hard working kids.  Mr. Work did a great job and the choir was very, very good.  The show choir was particularly impressive-- the dance moves! 

Kids of Ogallala- I love ya', thanks for rocking at concerts and everything you do. 

Pie and Tea

Jim's birthday is today.  This weekend, we celebrated first by going to The Hobbit Friday night (more on that in a later post), then by eating at Homemade Heaven on Saturday.  The eating out part mainly happened because we had to pick up a Strawberry pie from her that Jim ordered previously.
Because he didn't want to be without his annual lemon meringue pie, I also made one of those.  Unfortunately, my meringue didn't quite make it this year.  That's alright, still tasted awesome.  But, you won't be seeing a picture of that particular pie.

 Homemade Heaven made this beauty of a Strawberry Pie.  Jim has most of this already gone and close to half of the lemon meringue as well. The lady was so sweet when giving it to him, too.  Very happy to help on his birthday.

This is my usual drink at the Lampstand... a Sugar Free Vanilla Chai in Soy Milk.  Yes, I am one of THOSE people.  I recently discovered I have somewhat of an aversion to dairy products.  It's not a big deal, I won't die if I drink it, but avoiding it has made life a little more enjoyable.  And, the sugar free is kind of self explanatory.  My drink at the Lampstand is one of the few "treats" I allow myself weekly (sometimes more than once weekly).
It's times like these that I love to gloat about our local businesses.  A beautifully made pie, just for my sweet husband on his 27th birthday and delivered from a sweet lady who was so excited to show him.  And then a Monday afternoon hot drink to warm myself up.  Kendra at the Lampstand has been such a wonderful addition to downtown.  Heather is so sweet and they both treat me so well every time I come in.  Today, she even stopped herself after making my drink to realize it wasn't in soy milk and started over just for me.  What a sweet thing to do!
So, Kendra, though you don't read my blog, I really appreciate you  not only keeping me warm and happy with Chai, but also for the performing opportunities for my students and I and all the great Paninis, salads and soups I have enjoyed at your establishment.  You and Heather ROCK!

Proud Teacher

Tuesday night, right after lessons, I jumped in the car with my husband and drove to Arthur to watch my flute student, Brenna, perform at her Christmas concert.  She and I had been working on a flute solo version of "Believe" from the Polar Express.  She also played lead in a trio and had a solo with the band, as well as singing with the choir.  It was a really small group of kids performing their hearts out at a little concert.  I think we were the only ones not from Arthur at the concert, but it was a lot of fun to see her perform.  She did everything I suggested-- from taking a step to the side of the stand to bow, making sure to smile, making sure to tap her foot to the beat even if she was confident in the beat (to be safe), looking happy to be performing during rests... you know, standard, you are on the stage type stuff.

And because he just doesn't seem to get a lot of attention on this blog, our Gray, all tucked in and cute.

We're getting to the end of this blog.  Two weeks and you all will be without my photo updates.  Aw... that's okay, I have a new blog in the works.  Won't be nearly as exciting, just try to keep it up for people like my mom who is just now joining the blogging scene.